Cincinnati Plastic Surgery Specialists in Male Breast Reduction (Gynecomastia Surgery)
Thank you for considering UC Health Plastic Surgery for your plastic surgery procedure. We offer a safe, comfortable atmosphere in our modern, state-of-the-art facility located in West Chester, Ohio, convenient to both Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio. We offer a friendly staff of nurses and administrative support to help with your scheduling issues and questions.
What is Gynecomastia Surgery?
Procedure Benefits
- Reduce overdeveloped or enlarged breasts
- Reduce fatty deposits in or around the breasts
- Improve contour of the chest, resulting in a firmer and flatter chest
- Improve self-confidence
Private Consultation
Your surgeon will discuss your complete medical history and current health, including drug allergies and medical treatments, any use of medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, tobacco and drugs including steroids. Any pre-existing health conditions or risk factors should be discussed, and you should be completely honest with your surgeon in order to ensure the best outcome. Your surgeon may decide to perform diagnostic testing to determine the underlying cause of gynecomastia, which may include an endocrine function test. Once it is determined that you are a candidate for this procedure, the surgeon will examine and photograph your breasts for preoperative and postoperative reference; these photographs could also be used to obtain insurance coverage if applicable. Your surgeon will describe the procedure, including the risks and limitations, as well as the cost which may be covered by your insurance company if the procedure is medically necessary.
Preparation
If you have a medical condition such as high blood pressure, it must be controlled before you can undergo this procedure. After you have scheduled a surgery date, you will make an appointment for pre-admission testing and a physical exam. You will receive guidelines on eating and drinking, taking vitamins and medications, and smoking. Smoking should be stopped 2-3 months before the operation because it reduces the blood supply to tissue. In fact, some surgeons will refuse to perform elective surgery on smokers due to this risk. You should arrange for someone to drive you home after your surgery and to help you out for a few days.
Surgical Procedure
The procedure, also known as gynecomastia or male breast reduction, usually takes 2-4 hours and is performed in the surgical facility in West Chester. Male breast reduction is performed under general anesthesia, so you will be asleep during the entire operation. In cases where gynecomastia is primarily the result of excess fatty tissue, liposuction techniques alone may be used to loosen and remove the excess fat. In severe cases of gynecomastia, the weight of excess breast tissue may cause the breasts to sag and stretch the areola (the dark skin surrounding the nipple). In these cases the position and size of the areola can be surgically improved and excess skin may be reduced. The surgeon then reapproximates the skin from both sides of the breast around the areola and shapes the new contour of the breast. Stitches are usually around the areola and in a vertical line extending downward. In some cases, there is also a scar horizontally under the breasts.
Recovery and Healing Time
After surgery, a dressing or wrap may be placed over the breast/chest area. Typical symptoms and signs to watch for after surgical correction of gynecomastia include tightness and stiffness in treated areas; bruising, swelling and redness; tingling, burning, numbness or intermittent shooting pain. These are normal experiences as the skin, tissues and sensory nerves heal. Pain medication will help you cope with any discomfort. A small tube may be placed in each breast to drain off blood and fluids for a day or two. If you have drains, you may experience additional localized discomfort. As the healing process advances, you may also find a mild to severe itchy feeling which can be helped by an antihistamine like Benadryl. Finally, note that both sides of your body heal differently and that one side of your body may look or feel quite different from the other in the days following surgery; this is normal.
Procedure Risks
- Adverse reaction to anaesthesia
- Swelling
- Redness
- Infection
- Scarring
UC Health Plastic Surgery in West Chester, has three nationally recognized Cincinnati plastic surgeons.
Located north of Cincinnati, we serve West Chester, Mason, Loveland, Indian Hill and the rest of Greater Cincinnati and Dayton for all of their plastic surgery procedure needs.
